Safety burial vault or casket



1,637,471 Allg. 29 J. CLARKE SAFETY BURIAL VAULT 0R GASKET Filed July 28. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet I J J6 9 ,'oli. //N///h// l 60 l? T I 503.231 J6* 7 A TTORN E Auge Z I J. Q. CLARKE SAFETY BURIAL VAULT OR GASKET Filed July 28. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN Q.. CLARKE, OF CBWFOBDSVILLE, INDIANA.

SAFETY BURIAL VIAULT 0R GASKET.

Application led July 28, 1924. Serial No. 728,576.

This invention relates to an improved burial vault or casket that is principally constructed of metal and designed to afford a secure enclosure for a corpse, the invention having -reference more particularly to the type of burial vault that has automatic locks to pern'ianently lock the covering part to the base part of the vault, this invention relating also to a safetvburial yault;hayingavv 'bed foacrp'se removably fitted therein, and designed to be buried with the vault at less cost than for a separate closed casket or coffin usually enclosed in a vault or in an unsatisfactory rough encasing box.

An object of the invention is to insure safe keeping of the dead in an improved manner and at the minimum cost, particularly to guard against removal of a corpse after having been finally viewed and sealed in a receptacle for interment.

Another object is to provide an improved burial vault which may be manufactured of few parts of readily obtainable material and at small cost, and which will be so constructed as to permit of more or less elaborate trimmings to suit the means or desires of those who may bear the cost of interment.

A further object is to provide an improved burial vault which shall be of such construction as to be adapted to be sealed against circulation of air therein, and vet permit escape of moisture from a corpse with a resulting tendency to long preservation of the corpse.

A still further object is to provide an improved burial vault or casket which shall he of such construction as to accommodate highly efficient yet simple and durable locks for holding the cover part permanently to the base part thereof, and which may enclose an improved bed for a corpse, and improved means for securing the bed to the base part, which vault or casket shall be highly efficient as to strength and durability and' shall be economical in use.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in View. theinvention consists in an improved burial vault including a bed to be used when desired to support` a corpse, the vault including a base adapted to vcorrectly support a costly closed casket or coinl, on

funeral occasions when desired, the inven-v tion including improved means for automatically locking the vault parts in lace; and further, the invention consists a so in the parts and combinations and arrangethe preferred construction thereof;

ments of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the draWings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete burial vault or casket as preferably constructed; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, approximately centrally, of the complete burial vault or casket as preferably constructed; Fi 3 is a transverse section of Fig. 2 on an en arged scale; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section reproducing a portion of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the improved lock devices clasped back from operative position, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom lan of the cover part of the improved vau t; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged scale showing improved features of construction; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing an improved base handle folded for shipment; Fi 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation s owing portions of Fig. 2 more clearly on an enlarged scaleg Fig. 10 is ay erspective view of one of the fastening app iances used on the vault base to secure the bed thereto or to guide a' casket or coliin when placedl on the base, being on an enlarged scale to clearl show ig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan of the improved burial vault base and various devices connected therewith; and Fig. 12 is a fra mentary bottom plan of the burial vau t base on an enlarged scale showing an improved feature thereof.

Similar reference characters throu hout.

on its lower portion to directly support a- -body part, the member 6 preferably being vlaminated sufficiently to stiifen it if required, espeeially where corners are formed there being laminating plates 7 secured to the under side of the member 6. The to of the plate 5 preferably has bearing bloc s 8 thereon that is rotatively connected by means of a journal box cap 11 to the plate 5, and the journal has a stud 12 fixed thereon at such angle as to stand vertically when :the

st-andard 9 rests horizontally upon the bottom plate 5 to prevent sidewise movement of a Collin which may be placed between two oppositely arranged studs. The standard 9 has two guides 13 and 14 spaced apart in which a rod 15 is adjustably guided, the top of the rod having a lateral finger 16 fixed thereto to engage the top of a bed side wall. The rod 15 is provided with a stop pin 17 in proximity to the guide 14, and a coil spring 18 is seated on the pin and `'against the guide 13 to force the Enger 16 to 1ts lace. p An improved bed or lidless casket is combined with the vault base and comprises a bot-tom 19, sides 20 and 21 and also ends 22 and 23 connected together and to the bottom to support upholstery or cushions to supply attractiveness. The bottom 19 of the bed has a suitable number of slots 24 therein to receive the standards 9 adjacent to the inner sides of the side walls of the'bed. The bed Yis arranged in place on the vault base and the rods 15 are pulled upward and turned to permit the fingers 16 to become adjusted to the top of the bed sides, the clamps being subsequently covered and hidden by a lining 25 fastened to the side of the bed, a cloth covering 26 on the outer side of the bed, and a roll or covering 27 on the top of the bed walls. The coverings or upholstery work are variously designed for ornamentation as is obvious.

The vault base part is provided with a suitable number of folding handles, each comprisin an anchor plate 28 that is secured to t e inner side ofthe base frame and has a hin e pin 29 on its lower portion to which a s ank member or plate 30 is connected so as to extend under the flange 6,

anda handle member 31 connected to the v shank member and provided with a handle bar 32 whereby to lift and carry the vault base. The shank member 30 may be swung back towards the anchor plate against the resistance of a spring 33 on the hinge pin adapted to hold'the handle unfolded for use. The handle is held in folded position by means of a spring catch 34 supported preferably by the anchor plate and loperating.

in a suitable opening in the shank member 30.

An improved cover part is provided which comprises body side walls 35 and 36 and a lupon the base flange 6. The lower portion of each end wall has an inwardly extending flange 42 fixed thereon which is adapted to rest also upon the flange 6, and a number of portions of the flange 42 are provided each with an upward extending stop bar 43 formed integrally with the flange, other portions of the flange preferably being laminated by turning over the metal of which they are formed. A lock plate 44 is arranged behind each stop bar and has its lower portion connected to an anchor plate 45 by means of a hinge pin 46 arranged in proximity to the flange 42, the hinge pin having a coil spring 47 thereon so arranged as to force the lock plate towards the stop bar, the lock plate having pawl-shape engaging ends 48 to enter sockets 49 in the base frame, the anchor plate 45 being permanently secured to the inner side of an adjacent portion of the body end wall. A clasp arm 50 is connected at one end thereof to the anchor` plate 45 by means of a pivot 5l, and has a clasp finger 52 arranged to be 'moved into engagement with the swinging portion of the plate 44, to hold the plate in non-operative position during shipment and when displaying the vault to prospective purchasers or others. The body part of the vault cover has leakage channels 53, preferably at the ends of each flange 42 to iermit moisture or water from a corpse to ow out onto the flange 6 of the base part. In order to facilitate the placing of the cover part on the base part of the vault and also to insure reliable locking of the parts together a ,suitable number of combination andv guide devices are provided, each comprising a bar 54 havin a relatively' obtuse angle portion 55 whici referably has a laminating plate 56 behind) it and arranged on the corner formed by the junction of the portions 3 and 5 of the base, the plate 56 having a tongue 57 fixed thereto that extends through an aperture 58 in the end of the base frame and into contact with the top plate 5, thereby enabling the portion 55 to guide the flan es 42 and`43 over the ends of the base an the bars 54 to continue the guiding until the flange descends to the flange 6, so as to permit the bar 54 to sprin outward over the top of the flange 42 and prevent the ends 38 and 39 from beingr lifted from the base, and thus provide automatic locking means. A cover 59 is secured to the wall 3 and the top plate 5 and vconstitutes a closure for` the aperture `58 to prevent entrance of air'or water into the interior of the vault The body walls 35 and 36 are provided with a suitable number of drop handles (SO which preferably are arranged so as to be above the handle bars 32, so that the handles may be conveniently used to hold the cover part to the base part if desired for shipment by fastening the handles of the two parts together by means of tiewires.

It should be understood that either one of the types of the locking devices may beomitted from the vsmaller sizes or less costly vaults with resulting saving of expense. The tongue 57 may be forced out of the aperture 58 to remove vthe guide and locking bar during shipments and when demonstrating the vault lto prospective buyers, in order to prevent the cover part from being accidentally locked to the base part, and for the same reason the lock plate 44 is restrained from action by means of the clasp finger 52. When the base part of the vault is packed separatelyfrom the cover part the handles are folded back under the base part approximately as shown in Fig. 8 to protect the handles andeliminate obstructive projections on the base part. Also the standards 9, and 9 are arranged to rest horizontally upon the bottom plate 5.

In practical use the vault base with the bed secured thereon is suitably placed and arranged for funeral ceremonies, 'the corpse that is to be interred being arranged on the bed with such decorations as may be desired. so that the base part and its handles may be hidden from View. Vhen preferred, however, a casket or coflin having a lid may be used to directly contain the corpse and may be placed upon the base part either before or after the funeral ceremonies. When preparing to proceed to the burial ground, the clasp arm is moved to release the iinger 52 from the lock plate 44 so as to permit automatic action of the lock, and the guide and lock devices combined are connected to the base part by forcibly pushing the tongues 57 through the apertures 58.the cover part` is to be lowered until the base portion of the cover body rests upon the base flange 6, the cover part as it descends being guided by the inclined side portions 40 sliding on the hase part` and the flanges 42 sliding againstthc guide portions and 54. the lower end of the bar 54 being forced inward towards the base part until the flange 42 becomes seated and permits the bar 54 to springl outward and engage the top of the flange to lock the cover part to the base part. As the lock plate 44 is carried downward it slides on the upper edge of the base part. and being carried further downward the engagement ends 48 are forced into the sockets 49 with which the base part is provided and securely locks: the cover part against withdrawal from the base l part. Whether the burial vault is placed in a chamber above the ground or buried in the ground, the contents permanently remains securely protected therein. The atmospheric air trapped under the cover part prevents the entrance of additional air, and further sealing may be effected if deslred by means of cement placed upon the base flange 6.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A burial vault or casket including a base part, an open-top bed arranged upon the base part, adjustable clamps connected to the base part and the bed, and a cover part connected to the base part clear of the bed and entirely covering the bed at a distance therefrom. i

2. A burial vault or casket including a base part having bearing blocks on the top thereof, a bed su ported upon the blocks land having slots i the bottom thereof, and clamps pivotally connected to the top of the base part and receivable in the slots respectively, e-ach clamp having a relatively ad justable part to engage the bed.

3. A burial vault including a base part having a laterally elastic guide and lock bar removably connected thereto, the bar extending from the top of the base part downwardly and outwardly, and a cover including a body having a ange on its inner side to slide down the guide and lock bar and become engaged by the bar.

45A burial vault or casket including a base and a bed upon the base, the base having vertical frame portions provided with apertures, a cover part to be lowered into contact with the base and having a base flange on the inner side thereof, and guide bars having tongues on the backs thereof inserted in the apertures in the base frame portions, the guide bars being inclined opposite to the frame portions to guide the ase flange downward over the base.

5. A burial vault including a base part having a frame provided with a downwardfacing lug portion, a cover having a body portion arranged on the base part, and a lock comprising an anchor plate fixed to the inner side of the body portion, a lock plate hinged at its lower end to the lower end of the anchor plate, the upper end of the lock plate having a pawl-shape engagement portion to engage said lng portion, a spring supported to yieldingly force the lock late pivotally from the anchor plate, anV a clasp niovably connected to the anchor plate to engage and temporarily hold the lock plate to the anchor plate in inoperative position.

6. In a burial vault or'casket, the combination of a base part having handles foldable under the part, the handles normally projecting from beneath the part, and a cover part arranged on the base part and having handles arranged thereon above the handles on the base part.

7. In a burial vault or casket, the combination of a. base part comprising a frame and a top plate fixed to the top of the frame, the lower portion of the frame having a baseY flange on the outer side thereof, the bottom oitl the base flange having separate laminating plates fixed thereto, and a cover part having a'base'portion to rest upon sa1d base flange,

8. In a burial vault or casket, the combination of a base with a base flange on the outer side thereof, elastic lock bars secured to the base above its flanges, and a cover part comprising two body sides having flared lower port-ions to rest upon said base flange and comprising also twov body ends having base flanges on the inner sides thereof to rest also upon said base flange and to be engaged by said lock bars, the bottoms of said body ends having leakage channels therein adjacent to said flared portions.

9. In a burial vault or casket, the combination of a base comprising a frame and a vault bottom plate fixed on the frame, said plate having bearing blocks thereon, the lowerl portion of the frame having a base flange on the outer side thereof, a cover part comprising two body sides having flared lower portions to rest upon said base iiange and comprising also two body ends having base flanges on the inner sides thereof to rest also upon said flange on saidl base frame, and combined guiding and locking means co-operating with said base frame and the flanges on said body ends to lock the flanges to the flange on said base frame.

l0. In a burial vault or casket, the combination of a base comprising a base frame and a top plate fixed to the top of the frame, and a plurality of folding handles comprising each an anchor plate secured to the inner side of the base frame, a handle shank hinged to the anchor plate and having a relatively angular handle member fixed thereto, a spring supported by the anchor plate to yieldingly hold the handle shank to the bottom of the base frame, and a latch supported on the inner side of the base frame to engage the handle shank and hold the-- handle under the top plate of the base, with a cover part to co-operate with the base.

11. In a burial vault or casket, the combination of a base comprising a frame and a top plate fixed to the top of the frame, the lower portion of said frame having a base llange on its outer side, the outer side of the base frame having a laterally elastic guide and lock bar detachably connected thereto, said bar extending upwardly and partially over said top'plate and also downwardly towards the outer edge of said base flange, and a cover part having a base flange on its inner side to be guided downwardly on said bar to the flange on said base frame and permit the bar to engage the top thereof.

12. In a burial vault or casket, the c0mbination of a base comprising a base frame and a vault bottom plate fixed to the frame, the frame having a base plate extending outward from the bottom thereof and having also recesses in the outer side thereof, a body part comprising walls provided on the bottom thereof with inwardly-extending base` portions having upturned stop-bars, lock plates hinged to the body part wall behind the stop-bars and provided with springs yieldingly holding the lock plates to the stop-bars, and clasps mounted on said walls to temporarily hold the lock plates thereto or to permit the plates to enter said recesses.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature on the 24th day of July, 1924.

JOHN Q. CLARKE. 

